Dae Wang Sejong (2008): Season 1, Episode 52 - Episode #1.52 - full transcript
A healing trip, you say?
Yes, Your Majesty.
To where?
Well...
To Inwang Temple.
The Queen Mother's health
my be important,
but how could a king
violate his own state policy?
Despicable!
We're at a temple, Mother.
I'm sorry, Mother.
I am to blame for all this.
Please get well and scold me like before.
What's the Royal Secretariats
job for goodness sake!
How could you let this happen?
I'm sorry sir.
What's next?
Sir...
We just issued a nationwide order to
close down the temples, and the King has
taken the Queen Mother
to a temple himself.
What's next?
I'm surprised, Minister Jo.
The King has overtly violated
a state policy.
Aren't you going to do anything about it?
He's doing his sonly duty.
Then you're going to overlook this?
I said duty as a son, not as a King.
Let's just see how far he goes first.
What is it?
I...
They've come to pray
for the Queen Mother.
Allow us to hang a lantern if nothing else.
Please, for this young child...
She looks unwell.
She shouldn't' be here.
She insisted on coming when she
heard that the Queen Mother was ill.
We lost her mother to this
treacherous disease as well.
When she died... and when this
child was beyond comforting...
the Queen Mother was there.
But she is ill.
What is your name?
Keutsun...
How are you holding up?
I want to pray so the
Queen Mother gets better.
Can I hang my lantern over there and pray?
Please let us hang our lanterns,
Your Majesty.
The Queen Mother was with me
at my mother's side when she died.
... And when my son died.
... And when my brother died.
But there's nothing we can do for her.
So please let us pray to Buddha
for her recovery just once...
We wouldn't do this if it were for us.
We won't do anything that
the government doesn't allow.
We won't even come near
a temple again, so please...
Please let us pray to the
Buddha just this once.
We'll never come here again
once the Queen is well.
Please, Your Majesty
just this one time!
Your Majesty...!
What did I try to do to my people
to protect the national religion?
Are you awake?
Don't worry about Prince Hyoryeong.
He is fine.
Her pulse has stabilized as well.
Is this true?
She's making progress?
Your prayers have reached Buddha!
They are urgent matters
that require your approval.
The Queen Mother?
Much to my relief,
she appears to be improving.
Please return to the palace
in no more than two days.
You must, Your Majesty.
This is a healing trip, Secretary Yi.
That's why I am asking you.
If you come to a temple on a healing
trip, and if your absence is extended,
the ministers of the court will be up
in arms saying that you violated
your own policy and paralyzed
the government.
I will deal with their complaints
the way I should have long time ago.
Your Majesty.
Order prayer service to all Buddhist
temples across the country.
Prayer service?
A service to pray for the
Queen Mother's recovery.
I know how you feel, but...
You don't need to know how I feel.
I gave you an order
and you are to obey it.
You know as well as I do
that I can't obey that order.
And you know just as well what
happens to those who defy the King!
Your Majesty...
Master...
Can't you, if no one else,
give me a little sympathy?
There's nothing I can do
but hope for a miracle.
My mother lost her brothers because of me.
She begged me not to destroy my
sibling relationship, but I defied her,
pushed my brother out
and took his throne.
I gave the wife that same heartbreak
by failing to protect her father,
and now made my brother
Hyoryeong a criminal.
I can't even count.
Your Majesty...
I broke my mother's heart so
many times that I can't even count.
That's why I can't let her go.
I want to give her more time more time
to scold me as much as she wants.
And if Heaven would allow, I want to
make her smile if only just once...
What are you doing?
A nationwide Buddhist service?
Are you out of your mind?
What's wrong with it?
This country rejects Buddhism!
Must I explain again?
"There should be affection
between father and son."
One might say that he is
following the teachings of Confucius
by doing his filial duty.
Look!
Stop.
This is a waste of time.
His Majesty has given up his
kingly duty to do his sonly duty,
so we must be prepared for
the confusion that is to come.
Confusion?
- General Park.
- Yes, sir.
Put the city on state of alert and double
the surveillance on foreign diplomats and
spies from Ming, Japan and Jurchen.
Yes, sir.
Generals Choi and Yi.
Yes.
I need you two to go
to the northern states immediately.
Why the northern states?
No one knows the northern
states better than you do.
You must secure the borders
tightly so the Jurchens do not
attempt to take advantage of our crisis
I don't understand.
Don't you know that internal
chaos incites enemy aggression?
What's the ulterior motive?
The ulterior motive?
Choi Yundeok and Yi Chun are
the King's trusted generals.
I heard you sent them away.
Yes.
And you ordered your men
Yi Sumnong and Park Sil to secure
the city by declaring a state of alert.
That is quite right.
How can I not question
your ulterior motive?
Answer my question.
What else but to choose a King?
Choose a King?
As you always say, we the high
ministers are the ones that brought
the current King to the throne.
But he continues to push his
limits and make mistakes.
Isn't it only natural that we
would consider replacing him?
You're begging to be
charged with high treason.
My unconditional loyalty is yours
and you speak of high treason?
The test is over, Your Majesty.
The test?
Now you must take back all governing
authority from the young King.
Why did you insist on abdication
of the throne while you are alive?
Wasn't it to test if the heir to
the throne has what it takes
to lead this country when you're gone?
A man who thinks he is above the laws
does not have what it takes to be the King.
A man who abandons his duties
and paralyzes the government to
deal with his personal issues is
also not deserving of the throne.
You must take back the state,
Your Eminence.
The former King is a difficult opponent.
Is this what you really have in mind?
Do you really want Taejong
to rule this state again?
What makes you think I don't?
I thought your objective
was to control the King.
It was.
Then I think the current King is easier
to tame than the former King.
Why do you think I wanted
to control the King?
My ultimate goal is in quickly
creating stability to this country
and making this a small but
imposing kingdom that rivals Ming.
And I will submit any time to
a worthy king to achieve that.
Remember.
Country does not belong to the King alone.
How much longer do we have?
She is showing improvement, but
unpredictable nature of the disease...
I'm talking about me, not the Queen.
Your Eminence...
I can assume sovereign duties
again if you take good care of me?
Your Eminence...!
Give me a frank answer.
How much longer do I have?
Some physicians might say that
Your Eminence's life is in greater
danger than the Queen Mother's life.
If you should be overcome by
stress of running the state...
Are you saying I could die
before the Queen does?
Forgive me, Your Majesty...
Your Eminence!
Your Eminence...
Were you listening?
You're so cruel.
How could you keep this from me?
Don't tell anyone.
Eminence...
Don't let the Queen find out.
But...
Her whole life has been
fueled by spite for me.
If she learns about my pitiable fate,
she won't be able to hate me anymore.
It will only hasten her death.
I can't do that to the woman I
caused so much grief to already.
Merciful Buddha...
Come on out!
I am shocked to say the least.
You hate the temples more than
anything... and here you are.
I guess its' true that King's
prayer has reached Buddha and
you're starting to come around.
I detect a tone of sarcasm.
I'm sorry, my Queen.
You always wanted to be my political
partner more than to be my wife, but
all I ever did was to pull you down.
Don't change on me.
Sudden change in old age
means you're near death.
My Queen...
I'm finally thinking about doing some
politics with you as my partner.
How do you feel about it?
I need your wisdom.
I want to order national Buddhist services
and pray for the Queen Mother's recovery.
I need to find a way to overcome
the high ministers' opposition.
It's not possible, Your Majesty.
You were ready to give up your
post to keep your Buddhist faith.
Yes.
I'm talking about giving
you what you want.
If I can save my mother through prayers,
I can abolish the anti-Buddhism policy.
Are you trying to be a tyrant?
I already am. I became a tyrant the
day I ordered repressive measures
against the temples without
the slightest qualm.
It was the easiest thing to do.
There was no way I could
give up the Hall of Worthies,
and ordering my brother
Hyoryeong's arrest was not easy.
But ordering the temples closed
was the easiest thing to do
because it is the state's
policy to reject Buddhism.
So ordering the temples closed and
using that as leverage to negotiate
with the high ministers
was not hard to do.
But that was my biggest mistake.
What I did was more than
just shut down the temples.
I shut down hearts.
Like my mother said, I ordered my
people to shut down their heart.
Permitting worship of Buddha
and personally ordering
all temples in the country to hold
a service is not the same.
There is a reason why
our founders repressed Buddhism
and promoted Confucianism.
You cannot undo this by
encouraging Buddhism.
Don't you think I know that?
Then it is best that you
follow your good judgment.
Go back to the palace?
Have the ready the carriage.
You are very ill, Mother.
That's all the more reason I must go back.
Mother...
The mother of the state can't
very well die in a temple house.
Is it because of me?
What do you mean?
Who told you?
Some one told you I'm in trouble for
bringing you out here.
That's why you're insisting on going back.
I know you don't want to go back.
It's arrogance to assume what
your parents are thinking.
Forget about the Buddhist service.
Mother...
I am not saying this to protect you.
I am saying this because it's useless.
Did you forget?
I was once a political enemy of yours.
Do you think Buddha or Heaven
will forgive a mother like me?
Heaven will understand.
If it does?
If it does, what do you want?
For me to ruin
my son's political life so I can see
if it's possible for me to extend my life?
If that happens, my King,
I will not forgive myself.
You chose to take the throne
despite my earnest plea not to.
So don't be shaken by trivial emotions,
and accept the horrid, caged life of Kings.
You don't have the freedom to be
rough to your body and take ill.
You don't have the freedom to waste
time taking care of your sick mother.
So go back to the Royal Court at
once and attend to state affairs.
This is not naggings of a mother
but a final advice of the former
King's life-long political partner.
Hey, aren't you done yet?
I have to check every little detail
thoroughly to find the difference.
They both look the same to me.
They're different.
They have to be.
And I'm going to find that
difference if it kills me.
Fine, fine, but let's get some sleep
now and take it up again tomorrow.
All the scholars are already gone.
Just a little longer.
You're so stubborn!
I thought you were away, You Majesty.
Could this be because I provoked Heaven?
Your Majesty...
Heaven didn't strike my mother
instead of me because of
my arrogant announcement
to challenge him. Did he?
Your Highness...
I'm back.
How do you feel?
It's good to be home.
You have work cut out for you.
Your Highness...
He must be getting old as well.
Each day he grows softer.
But he has you, so I don't
have to worry. Do I?
Are you sure you're all right
with that, Your Highness?
Why, it would be like a tiger leaving
a fox behind to run her palace.
How could you accept
that and rest in peace?
You're a getting good.
Who know you'd ever jest with me?
Perhaps that's what kept
me going all these years
enduring your scolding and fighting you...
My dear...
Please get well.
You can yell at me all you want from
now on, so please just get better.
I will not proceed with the Buddhist service
to pray for Queen Mother's recovery.
You made a wise decision.
Are you satisfied?
I don't know what you mean.
I know that you urged my father to
take back the sovereign right to rule.
Now that I've given up on the Buddhist
service and returned to my duties,
I guess you've won.
I heard people call you a born winner.
So what do you think?
Are you happy with this win?
Politics is not about winning
and losing, Your Majesty.
Then what is politics about, Minister Jo?
I believe politics is enlightening
the unenlightened citizenry.
It is also creating balance and harmony by
controlling various demands of the society.
Harmony...
I think you taught me a great lesson today.
Minister Jo, I guess your job now
will be in creating harmony. Right?
Send him in.
Send him in!
Do stop those who take arbitrary action,
but do not destroy tradition.
This is the answer I've come up
with pondering the reality of Joseon
where Confucianism is the national
faith but many still rely on Buddha.
- Councilor Byun.
- Yes, Your Majesty.
Buddhist temples will
continue to be monitored.
If there are corrupt forces that exploit
worshippers of Buddha to gain power
and influence, it will be your job to
find them and bring them to justice.
I will carry out your
command to the fullest.
And Minister Jo.
Yes, Your Majesty...
It is your job to make sure
there is no government persecution
against Buddhist worshippers.
But Confucianism is indeed
this country's national faith,
so work with the Supreme Council and
the Six Ministries and devise policies
to promote and encourage
Confucianism among the people.
Is this good enough?
I trust this is the kind of balance
and harmony you are talking about.
Stop arbitrary action,
but don't destroy tradition?
And it's up to us to keep this
country a Confucian country?
If propagation of Buddhism is not stopped,
it will be the failure of the Supreme
Council and the Six Ministries.
Do we have to accept this?
You're afraid to take on
this simple challenge and you want to
be a part of this government?
Minister Jo!
The King is making politics
very interesting.
I think I'm going to
enjoy being a politician.
This was an excellent move.
You made a wise decision.
- Secretary Yun.
- Yes, Your Majesty.
I still believe a miracle could've
happened if we had prayed to Buddha.
Your Majesty...
I don't want you here anymore.
Mother...
I'll tell her to leave today.
No, should I make it tomorrow?
No, I'll send her back to
her palace later when
I can muster up enough strength
to give her a word of comfort.
Too many days went by trying
to figure out my fickle mind.
Mother...
My child...
My poor child...
Just follow your heart.
Do what your heart tells you.
Don't hold back your anger.
If you want to hate your husband, the
husband who was so cruel to your parents,
let your heart be free to hate him.
Mother...
And when you should get tired,
would you consider this one thing?
That you are not a wife
of an ordinary man.
That although you don't want to
and you're sick of it,
It is your inescapable fate to
live as a mother of the state.
It's quite possible that the citizen the
Queen must take most pity on is the King.
Fresh air feels nice for a change...
We're going back in soon.
It's a nice day, but the
breeze is not good for you.
I guess life treats you well
when you're at the end of it.
Are you...
... genuinely worried about me?
What is this?
Your Highness the Queen Mother is
the inspiration behind this new policy,
so the King wanted your
approval before it is decreed.
I guess this means he will preserve
the national faith but without breaking
the people's hearts.
It may not please you completely,
but show your son your support
and give him your approval.
Our son...
We raised him well.
He will be a great King
even greater than you.
Don't try so hard now.
It was a rough road for you as well...
Neither I nor this country
ever deserved you. Wife...
You were my wise wife, the King's gentle
mother, and my lifelong partner...
Yes, Your Majesty.
To where?
Well...
To Inwang Temple.
The Queen Mother's health
my be important,
but how could a king
violate his own state policy?
Despicable!
We're at a temple, Mother.
I'm sorry, Mother.
I am to blame for all this.
Please get well and scold me like before.
What's the Royal Secretariats
job for goodness sake!
How could you let this happen?
I'm sorry sir.
What's next?
Sir...
We just issued a nationwide order to
close down the temples, and the King has
taken the Queen Mother
to a temple himself.
What's next?
I'm surprised, Minister Jo.
The King has overtly violated
a state policy.
Aren't you going to do anything about it?
He's doing his sonly duty.
Then you're going to overlook this?
I said duty as a son, not as a King.
Let's just see how far he goes first.
What is it?
I...
They've come to pray
for the Queen Mother.
Allow us to hang a lantern if nothing else.
Please, for this young child...
She looks unwell.
She shouldn't' be here.
She insisted on coming when she
heard that the Queen Mother was ill.
We lost her mother to this
treacherous disease as well.
When she died... and when this
child was beyond comforting...
the Queen Mother was there.
But she is ill.
What is your name?
Keutsun...
How are you holding up?
I want to pray so the
Queen Mother gets better.
Can I hang my lantern over there and pray?
Please let us hang our lanterns,
Your Majesty.
The Queen Mother was with me
at my mother's side when she died.
... And when my son died.
... And when my brother died.
But there's nothing we can do for her.
So please let us pray to Buddha
for her recovery just once...
We wouldn't do this if it were for us.
We won't do anything that
the government doesn't allow.
We won't even come near
a temple again, so please...
Please let us pray to the
Buddha just this once.
We'll never come here again
once the Queen is well.
Please, Your Majesty
just this one time!
Your Majesty...!
What did I try to do to my people
to protect the national religion?
Are you awake?
Don't worry about Prince Hyoryeong.
He is fine.
Her pulse has stabilized as well.
Is this true?
She's making progress?
Your prayers have reached Buddha!
They are urgent matters
that require your approval.
The Queen Mother?
Much to my relief,
she appears to be improving.
Please return to the palace
in no more than two days.
You must, Your Majesty.
This is a healing trip, Secretary Yi.
That's why I am asking you.
If you come to a temple on a healing
trip, and if your absence is extended,
the ministers of the court will be up
in arms saying that you violated
your own policy and paralyzed
the government.
I will deal with their complaints
the way I should have long time ago.
Your Majesty.
Order prayer service to all Buddhist
temples across the country.
Prayer service?
A service to pray for the
Queen Mother's recovery.
I know how you feel, but...
You don't need to know how I feel.
I gave you an order
and you are to obey it.
You know as well as I do
that I can't obey that order.
And you know just as well what
happens to those who defy the King!
Your Majesty...
Master...
Can't you, if no one else,
give me a little sympathy?
There's nothing I can do
but hope for a miracle.
My mother lost her brothers because of me.
She begged me not to destroy my
sibling relationship, but I defied her,
pushed my brother out
and took his throne.
I gave the wife that same heartbreak
by failing to protect her father,
and now made my brother
Hyoryeong a criminal.
I can't even count.
Your Majesty...
I broke my mother's heart so
many times that I can't even count.
That's why I can't let her go.
I want to give her more time more time
to scold me as much as she wants.
And if Heaven would allow, I want to
make her smile if only just once...
What are you doing?
A nationwide Buddhist service?
Are you out of your mind?
What's wrong with it?
This country rejects Buddhism!
Must I explain again?
"There should be affection
between father and son."
One might say that he is
following the teachings of Confucius
by doing his filial duty.
Look!
Stop.
This is a waste of time.
His Majesty has given up his
kingly duty to do his sonly duty,
so we must be prepared for
the confusion that is to come.
Confusion?
- General Park.
- Yes, sir.
Put the city on state of alert and double
the surveillance on foreign diplomats and
spies from Ming, Japan and Jurchen.
Yes, sir.
Generals Choi and Yi.
Yes.
I need you two to go
to the northern states immediately.
Why the northern states?
No one knows the northern
states better than you do.
You must secure the borders
tightly so the Jurchens do not
attempt to take advantage of our crisis
I don't understand.
Don't you know that internal
chaos incites enemy aggression?
What's the ulterior motive?
The ulterior motive?
Choi Yundeok and Yi Chun are
the King's trusted generals.
I heard you sent them away.
Yes.
And you ordered your men
Yi Sumnong and Park Sil to secure
the city by declaring a state of alert.
That is quite right.
How can I not question
your ulterior motive?
Answer my question.
What else but to choose a King?
Choose a King?
As you always say, we the high
ministers are the ones that brought
the current King to the throne.
But he continues to push his
limits and make mistakes.
Isn't it only natural that we
would consider replacing him?
You're begging to be
charged with high treason.
My unconditional loyalty is yours
and you speak of high treason?
The test is over, Your Majesty.
The test?
Now you must take back all governing
authority from the young King.
Why did you insist on abdication
of the throne while you are alive?
Wasn't it to test if the heir to
the throne has what it takes
to lead this country when you're gone?
A man who thinks he is above the laws
does not have what it takes to be the King.
A man who abandons his duties
and paralyzes the government to
deal with his personal issues is
also not deserving of the throne.
You must take back the state,
Your Eminence.
The former King is a difficult opponent.
Is this what you really have in mind?
Do you really want Taejong
to rule this state again?
What makes you think I don't?
I thought your objective
was to control the King.
It was.
Then I think the current King is easier
to tame than the former King.
Why do you think I wanted
to control the King?
My ultimate goal is in quickly
creating stability to this country
and making this a small but
imposing kingdom that rivals Ming.
And I will submit any time to
a worthy king to achieve that.
Remember.
Country does not belong to the King alone.
How much longer do we have?
She is showing improvement, but
unpredictable nature of the disease...
I'm talking about me, not the Queen.
Your Eminence...
I can assume sovereign duties
again if you take good care of me?
Your Eminence...!
Give me a frank answer.
How much longer do I have?
Some physicians might say that
Your Eminence's life is in greater
danger than the Queen Mother's life.
If you should be overcome by
stress of running the state...
Are you saying I could die
before the Queen does?
Forgive me, Your Majesty...
Your Eminence!
Your Eminence...
Were you listening?
You're so cruel.
How could you keep this from me?
Don't tell anyone.
Eminence...
Don't let the Queen find out.
But...
Her whole life has been
fueled by spite for me.
If she learns about my pitiable fate,
she won't be able to hate me anymore.
It will only hasten her death.
I can't do that to the woman I
caused so much grief to already.
Merciful Buddha...
Come on out!
I am shocked to say the least.
You hate the temples more than
anything... and here you are.
I guess its' true that King's
prayer has reached Buddha and
you're starting to come around.
I detect a tone of sarcasm.
I'm sorry, my Queen.
You always wanted to be my political
partner more than to be my wife, but
all I ever did was to pull you down.
Don't change on me.
Sudden change in old age
means you're near death.
My Queen...
I'm finally thinking about doing some
politics with you as my partner.
How do you feel about it?
I need your wisdom.
I want to order national Buddhist services
and pray for the Queen Mother's recovery.
I need to find a way to overcome
the high ministers' opposition.
It's not possible, Your Majesty.
You were ready to give up your
post to keep your Buddhist faith.
Yes.
I'm talking about giving
you what you want.
If I can save my mother through prayers,
I can abolish the anti-Buddhism policy.
Are you trying to be a tyrant?
I already am. I became a tyrant the
day I ordered repressive measures
against the temples without
the slightest qualm.
It was the easiest thing to do.
There was no way I could
give up the Hall of Worthies,
and ordering my brother
Hyoryeong's arrest was not easy.
But ordering the temples closed
was the easiest thing to do
because it is the state's
policy to reject Buddhism.
So ordering the temples closed and
using that as leverage to negotiate
with the high ministers
was not hard to do.
But that was my biggest mistake.
What I did was more than
just shut down the temples.
I shut down hearts.
Like my mother said, I ordered my
people to shut down their heart.
Permitting worship of Buddha
and personally ordering
all temples in the country to hold
a service is not the same.
There is a reason why
our founders repressed Buddhism
and promoted Confucianism.
You cannot undo this by
encouraging Buddhism.
Don't you think I know that?
Then it is best that you
follow your good judgment.
Go back to the palace?
Have the ready the carriage.
You are very ill, Mother.
That's all the more reason I must go back.
Mother...
The mother of the state can't
very well die in a temple house.
Is it because of me?
What do you mean?
Who told you?
Some one told you I'm in trouble for
bringing you out here.
That's why you're insisting on going back.
I know you don't want to go back.
It's arrogance to assume what
your parents are thinking.
Forget about the Buddhist service.
Mother...
I am not saying this to protect you.
I am saying this because it's useless.
Did you forget?
I was once a political enemy of yours.
Do you think Buddha or Heaven
will forgive a mother like me?
Heaven will understand.
If it does?
If it does, what do you want?
For me to ruin
my son's political life so I can see
if it's possible for me to extend my life?
If that happens, my King,
I will not forgive myself.
You chose to take the throne
despite my earnest plea not to.
So don't be shaken by trivial emotions,
and accept the horrid, caged life of Kings.
You don't have the freedom to be
rough to your body and take ill.
You don't have the freedom to waste
time taking care of your sick mother.
So go back to the Royal Court at
once and attend to state affairs.
This is not naggings of a mother
but a final advice of the former
King's life-long political partner.
Hey, aren't you done yet?
I have to check every little detail
thoroughly to find the difference.
They both look the same to me.
They're different.
They have to be.
And I'm going to find that
difference if it kills me.
Fine, fine, but let's get some sleep
now and take it up again tomorrow.
All the scholars are already gone.
Just a little longer.
You're so stubborn!
I thought you were away, You Majesty.
Could this be because I provoked Heaven?
Your Majesty...
Heaven didn't strike my mother
instead of me because of
my arrogant announcement
to challenge him. Did he?
Your Highness...
I'm back.
How do you feel?
It's good to be home.
You have work cut out for you.
Your Highness...
He must be getting old as well.
Each day he grows softer.
But he has you, so I don't
have to worry. Do I?
Are you sure you're all right
with that, Your Highness?
Why, it would be like a tiger leaving
a fox behind to run her palace.
How could you accept
that and rest in peace?
You're a getting good.
Who know you'd ever jest with me?
Perhaps that's what kept
me going all these years
enduring your scolding and fighting you...
My dear...
Please get well.
You can yell at me all you want from
now on, so please just get better.
I will not proceed with the Buddhist service
to pray for Queen Mother's recovery.
You made a wise decision.
Are you satisfied?
I don't know what you mean.
I know that you urged my father to
take back the sovereign right to rule.
Now that I've given up on the Buddhist
service and returned to my duties,
I guess you've won.
I heard people call you a born winner.
So what do you think?
Are you happy with this win?
Politics is not about winning
and losing, Your Majesty.
Then what is politics about, Minister Jo?
I believe politics is enlightening
the unenlightened citizenry.
It is also creating balance and harmony by
controlling various demands of the society.
Harmony...
I think you taught me a great lesson today.
Minister Jo, I guess your job now
will be in creating harmony. Right?
Send him in.
Send him in!
Do stop those who take arbitrary action,
but do not destroy tradition.
This is the answer I've come up
with pondering the reality of Joseon
where Confucianism is the national
faith but many still rely on Buddha.
- Councilor Byun.
- Yes, Your Majesty.
Buddhist temples will
continue to be monitored.
If there are corrupt forces that exploit
worshippers of Buddha to gain power
and influence, it will be your job to
find them and bring them to justice.
I will carry out your
command to the fullest.
And Minister Jo.
Yes, Your Majesty...
It is your job to make sure
there is no government persecution
against Buddhist worshippers.
But Confucianism is indeed
this country's national faith,
so work with the Supreme Council and
the Six Ministries and devise policies
to promote and encourage
Confucianism among the people.
Is this good enough?
I trust this is the kind of balance
and harmony you are talking about.
Stop arbitrary action,
but don't destroy tradition?
And it's up to us to keep this
country a Confucian country?
If propagation of Buddhism is not stopped,
it will be the failure of the Supreme
Council and the Six Ministries.
Do we have to accept this?
You're afraid to take on
this simple challenge and you want to
be a part of this government?
Minister Jo!
The King is making politics
very interesting.
I think I'm going to
enjoy being a politician.
This was an excellent move.
You made a wise decision.
- Secretary Yun.
- Yes, Your Majesty.
I still believe a miracle could've
happened if we had prayed to Buddha.
Your Majesty...
I don't want you here anymore.
Mother...
I'll tell her to leave today.
No, should I make it tomorrow?
No, I'll send her back to
her palace later when
I can muster up enough strength
to give her a word of comfort.
Too many days went by trying
to figure out my fickle mind.
Mother...
My child...
My poor child...
Just follow your heart.
Do what your heart tells you.
Don't hold back your anger.
If you want to hate your husband, the
husband who was so cruel to your parents,
let your heart be free to hate him.
Mother...
And when you should get tired,
would you consider this one thing?
That you are not a wife
of an ordinary man.
That although you don't want to
and you're sick of it,
It is your inescapable fate to
live as a mother of the state.
It's quite possible that the citizen the
Queen must take most pity on is the King.
Fresh air feels nice for a change...
We're going back in soon.
It's a nice day, but the
breeze is not good for you.
I guess life treats you well
when you're at the end of it.
Are you...
... genuinely worried about me?
What is this?
Your Highness the Queen Mother is
the inspiration behind this new policy,
so the King wanted your
approval before it is decreed.
I guess this means he will preserve
the national faith but without breaking
the people's hearts.
It may not please you completely,
but show your son your support
and give him your approval.
Our son...
We raised him well.
He will be a great King
even greater than you.
Don't try so hard now.
It was a rough road for you as well...
Neither I nor this country
ever deserved you. Wife...
You were my wise wife, the King's gentle
mother, and my lifelong partner...